Gators' Defense Out To Correct Mistakes From Alabama Loss

NEW ORLEANS — Louisville coach Charlie Strong is back with the No. 5 Gators for one more game as defensive coordinator, and his first order of business is avenging the horrific performance against Alabama.

Strong said his team usually wins when missing 10 or fewer tackles, but "we exceeded that in the first half" against the Crimson Tide.

The game is such a sore subject that cornerback Joe Haden won't watch the film. "Nobody wants to even bring it up," Haden said.

Added safety Ahmad Black: "I don't want to be associated with that game."

The Gators entered the SEC title game with the country's best defense with fewer than 10 points per game allowed.

"We were on the high throne feeling like we couldn't be beat," linebacker Ryan Stamper said. "Things just went our way every time."

Notes: Florida has more than 4,000 available tickets for the game.

UF ticket director Mark Gajda said he was surprised the Urban Meyer drama didn't spike sales. ... Starting LB A.J. Jones (knee) will not play against Cincinnati. Jones ends the year with 29 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions despite missing three games.

- Jeremy Fowler

Unusual challenge

Florida State has played this season against defenses that have primarily used just three down linemen, but the Seminoles haven't seen anything exactly like West Virginia's 3-3-5 stack defense, FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett said.

It has been Trickett's job to prepare his line for the challenges of the Mountaineers' unusual scheme, which somewhat resembles those defenses FSU saw in victories against BYU and Wake Forest.

"Yeah, but they didn't have the stack," Trickett said. "If they line up and play pure 50 defense, I'd be grinning from ear to ear. It ain't that way ... basically you've got two nose guards. You've got a nose guard and then you've got a [middle] linebacker and you've got two other backers.

"So you know, they're really strong inside."

Trickett coached at West Virginia for six seasons before coming to FSU in 2007.

Notes: The Gator Bowl announced that there will be a "Bobby Bowden and FSU football team walk" before the game Friday. The walk is meant to provide fans with an opportunity to recognize Bowden in his final game as FSU's coach.

It begins at 10:30 a.m. on the west side of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium near Gate A. ...

Bowden said he has made phone calls on behalf of the four FSU coaches - Jody Allen, Chuck Amato, Dexter Carter and Todd Stroud - who won't be retained by Jimbo Fisher. Bowden said he expects that all four want to continue coaching.

- Andrew Carter

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Wednesday

Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green (7-5) vs. Idaho (7-5)

When/where: 4:30 p.m., Boise, Idaho ESPN

About Bowling Green: Freddie Barnes is the nation's leader in receptions per game (11.5) and is five catches short of breaking the NCAA large-school single-season receiving record of 142.

About Idaho: The Vandals will be making their first bowl appearance since the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl.

Worth noting: Bowling Green will be competing in its second bowl in three years after consecutive berths in 2003 and 2004.

Prediction: Idaho 35, Bowling Green 34

- Tribune newspapers

Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (9-4) vs. Arizona (8-4)

When/where: 8 p.m., San Diego ESPN

About Nebraska: DT Ndamukong Suh was a finalist for at least six major national awards. He leads the team with 82 tackles, 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss and 26 quarterback hurries.

About Arizona: Picked eighth in the preseason vote of Pac-10 Conference media, the Wildcats finished in a tie for second.

Worth noting: If Oregon hadn't tied Arizona with six seconds left and won 44-41 in double overtime on Nov. 21, the Wildcats would be playing in their first Rose Bowl. Nebraska missed beating Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game by only one second Dec. 5.